More than $1 million counterfeit goods were seized by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations from a Detroit business. Photo: ICE
DETROIT–U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations seized more than 6,000 counterfeit items with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $1.6 million from a Detroit business last Thursday. The seized items included counterfeit designer clothing and luxury accessories.
Homeland Security Investigations executed a state search warrant at The Source II, located on Woodward Avenue, following an investigation that included multiple undercover buys of counterfeit merchandise. Special agents also served a state search warrant at the Southfield residence of the business owner, Cerhue Walker, where he was arrested on charges of trafficking counterfeit goods. A second suspect, Latrice Walker, was arrested at the Detroit store.
The search and arrests come at the height of the holiday shopping season when counterfeit merchandise is highly pervasive. During the weeks leading up to the new year, the market is flooded with counterfeit products being sold at stores, on street corners and online. The most popular counterfeit products seized each year include headphones, sports jerseys, personal care products, shoes, toys, luxury goods, cell phones and electronic accessories.
